More than 800 Buddhist monks led by their high priests will welcome Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he arrives the mountainous northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh Sunday . 'Preparations are almost complete with 700 to 800 monks all set to give the Dalai Lama a religious welcome,' T.G. Rinpoche, a senior Buddhist spiritual leader and a former minister.

Rinpoche is overseeing preparations at the Tawang monastery and also at a school playground here where the Dalai Lama will hold a three-day religious discourse from Monday. 'Along with preparations, prayers are also going on in all the monasteries for the safe visit of the Dalai Lama,' said J.P. Shastri, a priest at the historic Tawang monastery.

The Tibetan leader arrives Sunday at the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, a region bordering china and which beijing claims. 'The entire town and the monastery have got a facelift. Devotees are excited about the Dalai Lama's visit,' Rinpoche said. The Dalai Lama is also expected to inaugurate a super-speciality hospital at Tawang. It was through Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh that in 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped the chinese communists to enter India. Since then he has lived in India. The Buddhist leader will the visit the adjoining town of Bomdilla and Dirang Nov 12, before leaving for state capital Itanagar. The visit ends Nov 15. 'He will also give sermons to devotees in Dirang, Bomdilla and Itanagar,' Rinpoche said.